Batch B, 51.9% abv, 2021, 60 liters produced, Lot#: H7T1-2G21 Bottle: 82

Picked up a bottle at Madre in WeHo after tasting Batch A during a tasting on a rainy Tuesday afternoon (I had tasted a couple other pours of other El Tigre at Mirate as well a month and half earlier). One of the first of these El Tigre releases in the US. Playdoh on the nose and roasted root vegetables. Flavors are varied on the palate with a bit of tangerine, jollyrancher, bubblegum. Touch of minerality, Altoids, yam, and tree bark. Some white pepper heat, but really subdued heat for the abv. Almost bizarre how little heat there is for the abv. Great destilado, I really recommend seeking these El Tigre batches.

46.7% abv, Batch; Cerrito 1 Bottle: 24/150 March 2016 distillation, 160 liter batch, rested in glass for five years, bottled in 2022.

Great to see individual liquor stores and bars get their own mezcal batches, glad this trend is starting to pick up with other producers and brands (I realize that practice for bourbons and whiskies has been happening for a while). This bottle was an exclusive to El Cerrito Liquor Store in Corona, California. The nose has a bit of incense smoke, like a rich burning wood as well as caramel green apple and burnt sugar. This expression has some great flavors: sweet cooked agave straight from the horno, sour plum and cherry, a bit of teriyaki beef jerky, overripe persimmon, and pink bubblegum. And on the backend of the flavor profile, there is some interesting herbal green notes like chives or green onion. Really complex and a great sipper. Definitely worth the price at $130 (and checking online, these exclusive Cinco Sentidos batches at Old Town and elsewhere are priced at the same price point so you are not going to get taken for a ride). I definitely recommend that you seek out and taste some of these exclusive batches at a bar or mezcaleria if they have them. Star rating is closer to a 4.75/5 for me.

Lot 9, 2022 140 liter batch, 49.5% abv,masparillo

I got to try Mezonte Tepe for the first time at Mirate in Los Angeles where they had multiple bottles to sample. The bar staff were very knowledgeable and had a great selection of Mezonte bottles (in addition to other brands). What an amazing mezcal! I sprung for this bottle at El Cerrito Liquor in Corona. These bottles are not cheap, nor should they be. The flavors are layered and the quality shines through. Minerality is the first thing you notice, and a eucalyptus note hits up front, a Pinesol-like whiff, with a ginger flavor bordering on sarsaparilla maybe closer to ginger ale with a touch of carbonation. There is some tartness/astringency/salinity in the background. Wow, the balance is incredible, and the heat just hangs around in the background to remind you. The other reviews hit on the lime note (bitter lime), no funk on this masparillo though. Worth every peso.

47% abv, Lot #10, Bottle 915/1150 May, 2021

Interesting, a 700 ml bottle. Did not notice before. Nose has some interesting floral notes, but also bubblegum, rubber sap, and yard waste bin (wood chips, bit of eucalyptus, dandelions pulled up by the root). Really strong flavors on this one: big league chew, peach pit, nopal cactus, pencil eraser, tobacco/cigar, and ashtray. Crazy how much this has going on. I think the ensemble is very interesting and unique. Not a lot of heat on this one for the abv, but some lingering finish. My tasting notes do vary from others, not as much funk on mine (but maybe something in my yard waste bin could be decomposing), I can see the leather notes (tobacco), maybe a hint of that orange/orange peel, and other green vegetables may have a say here too (okra and kale). My best guess is that the mezcalero may vary the blend so it could change the profile of each batch significantly. Definitely worth tasting if you see it at a bar, and the bottle is in the $70-80 range too.

48% abv, Lot: YJ08-22, Bottle: 1839/6000

Picked this up at Costco. I have had Yuu Baal before but am pretty impressed by the quality of this espadin even with high production numbers (6000 bottles in a batch sounds pretty industrial, but the bottle says its methods are artisanal). Really solid espadin: good heat, light smoke, citrus pith, grape jelly, and creamy mouthfeel. Great as a mixer and can’t beat the price under $35/bottle. Definitely agree with Zach’s evaluation, seems like older batches had some significant variation in quality though.

Batch: IV/2022

Feels like winning the lottery to get a one liter bottle rather than a 750. A decent and quality espadin. I really like this one in cocktails, makes a great paloma, mezcal margarita, and Oaxacan old-fashioned. As a sipper, it is a little smoke forward, on the nose, in the front and back of palate. It also has a little bitterness, which I have grown to enjoy in espadins, but at times the astringency and smoke don’t give any fruit or sweet flavors space to shine. After letting my copita get some air, the smoke is less pronounced and you get some nectarine, Rainier cherry, sage, oak, and cola. This one does pack some heat, which lingers on the palate for a while. A great deal for a one liter bottle.

48% abv, Lot 1021JB

Different batch from the other reviews. I first tasted a capón from the Barrancas at Madre in WeHo in a paired tasting and really enjoyed it. This bottle I picked up from El Cerrito Liquor in Corona has got a lot of the same character and quality that first drew me to these producers. The nose has some spice and earth with a background of minerality. Flavors have some celery and celery salt, definitely a little briny. There is some sweetness that borders on tart fruit (think green plum or underripe peach). More of a white pepper spice and an interesting mouthfeel, which before I though reminded of a clay distillation but that could be the water source. I think on another sampling of a papalote from Guerrero, (Calzada previously, in this side-by-side, the Cinco Sentidos) I noticed a kind of green onion quality (the green part of the green onion, not the white). This one has something similar. These Mal Bien releases can set you back around $100, but I think it definitely packs some flavor and complexity for the price. Star rating is 4.25/5.

46.5% abv May 8, 2021 189 liters produced

Doing a side by side of three cupreatas. Another destilado aged in glass, love these ones and I have really come round on cupreatas. Such a deep rich flavor. A real interesting mouthfeel, brings some sweetness and an interesting mix of herbal, mineral, and spice flavors. coriander and green cardamom, a bit of lavender. The flavor lingers for a while and keeps coming in waves. The backend has some dogwood in there. Great stuff! The flavor is close to Ciro and Javier Barranca’s papalote capón (Mal Bien) as well. Lots to think about why….region, family, microclimate, water, process??? The only difference in reviewing the production notes is that this one is aged in glass and they produce about 3 1/2 hours from each other. I love the curveball here given that I have found variation among producers, agaves, and regions to be the norm, so the similarities I would not expect, but maybe somethings do flock together (or grow together, roast together, ferment together, distill together…)

Bottle 107, 46.5% abv

Third of three cenzios that I sampled side-by-side. Another quality release from MM. This cenizo is a bit more fruit forward than others I have tried, but still the common thread with this maguey for me is a backbone of minerality. This one has a bit of cheese on the nose, and a whiff of pear. The flavors on the palate do hit on that pear note with nice overall sweetness. There is a bit of an herbal quality hitting close to lemongrass and thyme. But the aftertaste hits that cheese note, like a whipped cream cheese. Not as much heat or spiciness as the 48% cenizos I sampled, yet still a mild background heat. I do like this better than Jonny; it hits some flavors that really work well together. I can smell and taste some of the floral notes he mentions though.

Lot. 6, No. 169 48% abv

Second cenizo of the three in my line up. So many quality cenizos out on the market; it is really exciting to see more get distribution and attention. Spearmint and old bubblegum/latex on the nose. Rich and complex flavors: asparagus, used mint teabag, wet rocks after the first drops of a spring rain, underripe melon, salted butter, and a nice, black pepper finish. Lots to like about this one. Mouthfeel is maybe a tad thin and the heat does sting on the tongue for a while. Looking over the other reviews, I don’t quite get the cinnamon or cedar, but agree with the mushroom-like quality. I definitely agree with Chuey Agave that this mezcal is a great value for the price and flavor profile. A solid introduction to cenizos for a beginner. More of a 3.75 stars out of five for me.

Batch# 32CD1603 Edition: 10 Bottle 481/491 48% abv

Tasting three different cenizos side-by-side. The nose has a slightly bitter aroma, but also a nice sweetness like freshly cut mango or pineapple, and a smell like toasted pecans. Flavors of tart apple, sour cherry, toasted whiskey barrel, and burnt sugar. Has some interesting minerality underneath those flavors as well. Alcohol hits a little harder for the 48% abv, but that heat does not linger very long. Looking over the other reviews, I do see Tyler’s cognac note (but maybe that is more armagnac?), not sure I get the funky note that others mention or the peated whisky, but that could be the whiskey barrel note; there maybe a touch of menthol and leather others mention. Enjoyable and a quality sipper.

Bottle: 207/239 Lot#: DTRMT-07 2019 ABV: 50.7%

I don’t think we got to sample a tobalá back in 2017, but I probably would have sprung for a bottle if I had. Also drank several pours at Deckman’s in Baja at an incredible price point (about $13/pour). What a fantastic tobala. Floral, sweet, minerality. A hint of bubblegum, floral tastes like Gardena. I can taste the clay In a big way with this expression. I could drink this all day. I will need to track down a bottle at some point (probably not going to be at the same price point as I got in Baja).

Bottle 226/248 Lot: DTRML-03 2019 ABV: 49.9%

Sampled several pours of this Largo at Deckman’s in Baja in January 2023. At about twelve dollars a pour, you do have to have several pours. Second time with a largo from Real Minero since 2017. Not as great the barrill and not as luscious as the cuish we purchased from real minero in 2017, but this is a great karwinskii nonetheless. Not the nose of other karwinskiis, not the grassy or herbal aromas. A bit of thyme though and light sweetness. The flavors are quite delicious. Spiciness, caramel, and that same light herbal essence. The clay is not as pronounced as the barrill but so well balanced.

48% abv Lot: ACU0221C Bottle: 901

Picked up this 200 ml bottle at Tahona Baja in Jan, 2023. Toasted graham cracker, dark brown sugar, caramel popcorn, and stale garage (maybe after an oil change). Complex and inviting. Wish I had gotten a full 750, but you know, those border restrictions are a problem when you cross at San Ysidro, only one liter per person (which means a 750 and a 200). Don’t want to risk trying to bring across a couple extra bottles when a border agent is having a bad day.

Bottle 8/60 ABV: 46.8%

Got to taste this gem at a mezcal tasting at Madre a couple years ago and my wife fortunately sprung for a bottle. Lots of subtlety in this expression. Faint smell of burnt sugar, stewed plum, and tart green apple. Flavors are subdued and earthy at first then open up into graham cracker, mint, tarragon, honeysuckle blossom, and white pepper heat that is not too overpowering. Teps are some of my favorite sippers because there are usually a great deal of complexity and nuance to the flavors. This expression has exactly those qualities that made me fall in love with tepextates. Might be tough to track down a bottle of this release with only sixty total bottles, but NETA does have some outstanding texpextates in their line-up.

Bottle: 277

Delicious stuff. Pickle juice, watermelon rind, and faint flavor of strawberry. Green aromas with light smoke. A dash of eucalyptus and mint. And hearty cucumber. Does taste quite a bit different from a tepeztate, but I am not complaining. Sign me up for more pichomels from Puebla!

ABV 44%, No Batch Info

I picked up this raicilla from Ramirez liquor in Los Angeles. The costas vs. the sierras have some definite differences in flavor profiles and aromas. This Sierra has wet sponge, pine tar, juniper, and an artificial sweetener on the nose. The flavors are tart lemon, lemon verbena, herbal and mint undertones, underripe blueberry, pine and dried out lumber, week-old flower bouquet, and a drying mouthfeel. Mild to low heat and spiciness. I don’t get some of that cheesy funk that folks tend to associate with raicillas in general and maximilianas in particular. Enjoyable and a pleasant sipper.

Batch: CAP01-19 Bottle: 118/355 48.1% abv

Was first exposed to this particular 5 Sentidos offering at Damian in Los Angeles in April 2021 and really enjoyed it. I then went out a purchased a bottle at Ramirez, and this bottle has been such a chameleon. The capón aspect can really intensify the sugars and sweetness, and this one definitely is a sugar bomb, however it does have some of those over-the-hill qualities or like overripe fruit, it can hit a bit of champagne vinegar or even funk or rottenness. It makes it hard to review because it goes back and forth for me, being super sweet and delicate and then overpowering and off-putting. On the nose it does have a slight funk to it but tons of burnt sugar/caramel/roasted sugarcane as well as wet earth from a recently tilled field. The flavors are a combination of heavy cinnamon syrup, toasted almond, and artificial sweetener (yes, it is that sweet). In addition, it seems to be a little effervescent. One review mentioned vomit or sweaty feet, and it hits on that too. Looking over the other reviews, it seems like there is a wide divergence in flavor profiles (except for that cinnamon note/red hots/Dentyne ) and a bit of funk. I would recommend sampling it if you can find it a bar, but at $110 a bottle, you may want to hold off until you try it.

Ensemble 57% espadin, 43% mexicano 51.3% abv Lot: S-07-EM-18 Batch: 377 Liters

Surprised no one else has reviewed this particular bottle and that this blend and its rough proportions only seems to appear in a review by Rakhal. This one might be the most mexicano heavy of Tio Rey’s ensembles. Taste a good deal of that espadin, but then the drying quality of the mexicano takes over and some of its nuance. This is one hot mezcal, and normally the high abv’s don’t hit me as hard. That reaction to the abv seems to be a common thread amongst the other reviews. Nose has a bit of stinky feet but the flavors are all over the place. A ton of black pepper heat throughout, a bitter taste like pith of citrus but then an anise/licorice flavor comes through. There is also a background charcoal note, maybe a combo natural gas/mesquite grill. Some tropical fruit as well, dried pineapple with chili. And after letting get some air for a spell, there is some candy corn flavor there (which normally would be a deal breaker for me but isn’t too bad here). Down to the last couple pours of this offering, but I would gladly pay for another ensemble from Tio Rey. Really can taste and experience both agaves which is not common in the other ensembles that I have sampled. 4.25 stars out of 5.

Mezcalera: Berta Vazquez, Lot#CH1-E2001US 46.42% abv

Have tasted a couple other mezcals from Berta and enjoyed them quite a bit. Her Rezpiral Espadin also comes highly recommended. This espadin was sweet and luscious. Flavors of musty grape, saltwater taffy, then at the backend some minerality, spice, and heat. Wow, very enjoyable. This bottle went so fast, like her other espadin from Rezpiral.